Fluorescent lighting fixture



FLUORES CENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 9 4 @2 /0 'l /fC'a f@ l] a l t "lh L i /f u la] l v7 n FZ 64 /26 I/ /'\-.1 P@ Iaweioaf:

Aug' 3, 1948- M. H. KRUGER FLUORSCENT LIGHTING IXTUR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2l Filed Sept. 14, 1945 Patented Aug. 3, 1948 FLUoltiisosN'r LIGiIfriNGV FIX'iUnE Michael. H. Kruger, Malden, Mass., assigner to.

Smith iron Company., Ghelseaf a This invention relates to a fluorescent lighting fixture of greatly simplied'construction, which will be simple and easy to make, andv yet be efficient and'whollysatisfactory in operation and maintenance.

Lighting fixtures of this nature, designed to holdV fluorescent lighting tubes, are generally complicated and massive in structure and relatively expensive to manufaeture. The present device eliminates many of the parts and elements usually found in such structures, such asf the meesters and provides, a Structure of'4 pleasing appearance consisting. of. two main. parts of, iden`- tisal censirucion. and, which are attachee@- sethes and which provide the. necessary heus,- ing for the wires, ballast, and starters, as well as support for the fluorescent tubes. The ceiling to which the fixture is attached acts as the reflector in this construction, and parts which ordinarily collect dust are reduced to a minimum, thus providing ease of maintenance.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of constructi-on and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purn pose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig, 1 is a plan view of my structure;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section on lines 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation with a portion broken away to expose the interior;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the principal parts, showing the interior arrangement, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the end closure cap.

As shown in the drawings, the iixture comprises two main parts, consisting of two U-shaped members I0 of similar or identical construction, made preferably of sheet metal and having a side II, and two Vforwardly curved ends I2, and two rearn wardly turned flanges I3 and I4 extending along the entire top and bottom edges respectively of the members IIJ, forming a channel-shaped sec- 2 tion. Sockets I5 (Fig. 3) are provided in the two ends I2: to detachably receive two ilimrescent lam-ps `I6 intubularfform, shown in dottedy limes in Fig. 1. The two members I0. are4 assembled secured together in opposed relation, o r back-t9 back, as. shown. in, Eig. 1., by means of mammelle connecting brackets t8.. andtWo. end bracketsls with screws 2li, therein (Fig. 5,1. The sides IfI and flanges I 3 and Iiofzmembers. l0., When thllS secured, yprovide ahousingfor Containing the usual wires 2.2 hal-last 2,3.. (transformer). starters 24 and sockets 25 therefor (Fig. 5). As wires 22;, ballasili. starters 2,4, and splsets stare. ccn- Yentonal Operating Darts 511th. -stures. their @sustantiva and (limits. are riet, shown-.1.a da. tail. The two middle connecting brackets I8 also serve to secure the ballast 23 to the xture, and the two end brackets I9 likewise secure the sockcts 25 for the starters 24 to the fixture. Closure caps 26, preferably of sheet metal, having curved ends 2l and a central aperture 28 for the starters 24 enclose the otherwise open outside ends of the fixture, 'and are preferably secured thereto by snapping ends 2l thereof over ends I2 of members Ill, the resiliency of the sheet metal construction permitting this to be done. The xture is attached to the ceiling by means of central hanger 39, in any suitable manner, the hanger in turn being secured to the top flanges I3 of members II) in any suitable manner as by nuts and bolts 3i (Fig. 1), and connection to an electrical outlet is made by means of plug l'32 or by usual lead wires. A panel member 34 serves to close the joint between the two bottom flanges I4 0f members I0, and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by several small T-shaped tongues (not shown) inserted in the joint.

It will thus be seen that the xture comprises a minimum of parts, and is simple and easy to construct, install and maintain, and is wholly ellicient and satisfactory in operation. The fact that the two members I 0 are of identical construction, and can be made from the same dies, also reduces the cost of constructing the unit.

I claim:

l. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising two substantially identical U-shaped members, the forwardly extending ends thereof having .sockets therein for holding fluorescent tubes, rearwardly turned top and bottom anges on said members, the two members with their flanges, when arranged back to back in opposed relation, forming a housing for containing operating parts of the fixture, and means for holding the members in opposed relation.

2. A fluorescent lighting nxture comprising two substantially identical U-shaped members, the forwardly extending ends thereof having sockets therein for holding uorescent tubes, rearwardly turned tcp and bottom flanges on said members, the two members with their anges, when arranged back to back in opposed relation, forming a housing for containing operating parts of the fixture, means for holding said members together in opposed relation and a cap enclosing the oppositely extending ends of said members.

3. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising two substantially iden-tical members, channelshaped in cross-section, having forwardly extending curved ends, sockets provided in said ends for holding fluorescent tubes, means for holding said members together in `opposed relation, operating parts for said fixture being housed in the channel formed between said members, and a cap enclosing the oppcsitely extending end portions of said members.

1 4. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising two substantially identical members, channel-shaped in cross-section, having forwardly extending curved ends, sockets provided in said ends for holding fluorescent tubes, means for holding said members together in opposed relation, operating parts for said iixture being housed in the channel formed between said members, a cap enclosing the oppositely extending end portions of said members, and means for attaching said xture to a wall vor ceiling.

5. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising two substantially identical members having forwardly extending curved ends, sockets provided on the inner side of said ends for holding fluorescent tubes, rearwardly turned top and bottom flanges on said members forming a channel-shaped section between said flanges, means for holding said members together in opposed relation with said curved ends extending in opposite directions, the space betweenrsaid members and their flanges when so arranged, forming a housing for containing operating parts of the fixture.

6. A fluorescent lighting xture comprising two substantially identical members having forwardly extending curved ends, sockets provided on the inner side of said ends for holding fluorescent tubes, rearwardly turned top and bottom flanges on said members forming a channelshaped section between said flanges, means for holding said members together in opposed relation with said curved ends extending in opposite directions, the space between said members and their anges when so arranged, forming a housing for containing operating parts of the fixture, and a cap enclosing the oppositely extending ends of said members.

MICHAEL H. KRUGER.

REFERENCES CITEDl The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,293,116 Claspy Aug. 18, 1942 2,314,038 Elting Mar. 16, 1943 2,367,472 Schockett Jan. 16, 1945 2,399,531 Young Apr. 30, 1946 

